Kenya national football team facts for kids
Nickname(s) | Harambee Stars | |||
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Association | Football Kenya Federation (FKF) | |||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | |||
Sub-confederation | CECAFA (Central & East Africa) | |||
Head coach | Benni McCarthy | |||
Captain | Michael Olunga | |||
Most caps | Musa Otieno (90) | |||
Top scorer | William Ouma (35) | |||
Home stadium | Moi International Sports Centre | |||
FIFA code | KEN | |||
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FIFA ranking | ||||
Current | 106 ![]() |
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Highest | 68 (December 2008) | |||
Lowest | 137 (July 2007) | |||
Elo ranking | ||||
Current | 108 ![]() |
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Highest | 60 (November 1983) | |||
Lowest | 140 (August 2011) | |||
First international | ||||
![]() ![]() (Nairobi, Kenya; 1 May 1926) |
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Biggest win | ||||
![]() ![]() (Nairobi, Kenya; 4 October 1961) |
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Biggest defeat | ||||
![]() ![]() (Uganda; 14 December, 1932) |
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Africa Cup of Nations | ||||
Appearances | 7 (first in 1972) | |||
Best result | Group stage (1972, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2019) | |||
Four Nations Football Tournament | ||||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2024) | |||
Best result | Champions (2024) | |||
COSAFA Cup | ||||
Appearances | 2 (first in 2013) | |||
Best result | Group stage (2013, 2024) |
The Kenya national football team, also known as the Harambee Stars, represents Kenya in the sport of association football. This team is managed by the Football Kenya Federation. They are part of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA). The team usually plays its home games at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya's capital city.
Contents
Team Name: Harambee Stars
The team's nickname, the Harambee Stars, comes from the word Harambee. This is a special Kenyan tradition. It means people come together to help each other. The word means "all pull together" in the Swahili language. It is also Kenya's official motto. You can see it on the coat of arms.
Team History
In 2004, FIFA stopped Kenya from playing football for three months. This happened because the government got too involved in football matters. The ban was lifted when Kenya agreed to new rules.
Later, in 2006, Kenya was suspended again. This was because they did not follow an agreement made earlier. FIFA said the ban would stay until the football federation followed the rules.
Kenya played in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The coach at that time was Sébastien Migné. Under his leadership, Kenya moved back into the top 100 teams in the FIFA rankings.
In May 2017, the Football Kenya Federation signed a deal with Mafro Sports. This company makes sports kits. They agreed to provide kits for all national teams for three years. The main team wears red jerseys for home games. They wear white for away games and green for games played at neutral places.
On September 8, 2018, Kenya won a game against Ghana. Ghana is a strong team that has won the African championship four times. Kenya won 1–0.
In January 2023, the Football Kenya Federation announced a problem. They suspended 14 players and two coaches. This was due to concerns about unfair play in matches.
Recent Games and Future Matches
Here are the results of games played in the last year. Also, some future matches are listed.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
Games in 2024
7 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Kenya ![]() |
1–1 | ![]() |
Lilongwe, Malawi |
15:00 UTC+2 | Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Referee: Jean Ouattara (Burkina Faso) |
11 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Kenya ![]() |
0–0 | ![]() |
Lilongwe, Malawi |
15:00 UTC+2 | Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Jalal Jayed (Morocco) |
27 June 2024 COSAFA Cup | Zambia ![]() |
0–2 | ![]() |
Gqeberha, South Africa |
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Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium |
30 June 2024 COSAFA Cup | Kenya ![]() |
0–2 | ![]() |
Gqeberha, South Africa |
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Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium |
2 July 2024 COSAFA Cup | Kenya ![]() |
2–0 | ![]() |
Gqeberha, South Africa |
12:00 | Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium |
Games in 2025
20 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Gambia ![]() |
3–3 | ![]() |
Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
19:00 UTC±0 |
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Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium Referee: Abdou Abdel Mefire (Cameroon) |
23 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Kenya ![]() |
1–2 | ![]() |
Nairobi, Kenya |
16:00 UTC+3 | Stadium: Nyayo National Stadium |
September 2026 World Cup qualification | Kenya ![]() |
v | ![]() |
September 2026 World Cup qualification | Kenya ![]() |
v | ![]() |
October 2026 World Cup qualification | Burundi ![]() |
v | ![]() |
October 2026 World Cup qualification | Ivory Coast ![]() |
v | ![]() |
Team Coaches
Ray Batchelor was the first coach of the national team in 1961. But some players were not happy with his coaching. This led to problems during a CECAFA Cup game. He was then forced to leave. In 1963, after Kenya became independent, Peter Oronge took over. However, he disappeared just before a friendly game in 1965. His absence was never explained. Batchelor had to step in as an emergency coach. In that game, Kenya lost 13–2 to Ghana. Ghana was a very strong team back then. Two days later, Batchelor helped the team reorganize. Kenya and Ghana then played to a draw in another friendly match.
Here is a list of managers since 1961. Caretaker managers are shown in italics.
Ray Batchelor (1961)
Peter Oronge (1963)
Ray Batchelor (1965)
Jack Gibbons (1966)
Elijah Lidonde (1967)
Eckhard Krautzun (1971)
Jonathan Niva (1972)
Ray Wood (1975)
Grzegorz Polakow (1979)
Stephen Yongo (1979)
Marshall Mulwa (1980–1983)
Bernhard Zgoll (1984)
Reinhard Fabisch (1987)
Christopher Makokha (1988)
Mohammed Kheri (1988–1990)
Gerry Saurer (1992)
Mohammed Kheri (1995)
Vojo Gardašević (1996)
Reinhard Fabisch (1997)
Abdul Majid (1998)
Christian Chukwu (1998)
James Siang'a (1999–2000)
Reinhard Fabisch (2001–2002)
Joe Kadenge (2002)
Jacob Mulee (2003–2004)
Twahir Muhiddin (2004–2005)
Mohammed Kheri (2005)
Bernard Lama (2006)
Tom Olaba (2006)
Jacob Mulee (2007–2008)
Francis Kimanzi (2008–2009)
Antoine Hey (2009)
Twahir Muhiddin (2009–2010)
Jacob Mulee (2010)
Zedekiah Otieno (2010–2011)
Francis Kimanzi (2011–2012)
Henri Michel (2012)
James Nandwa (2012–2013)
Adel Amrouche (2013–2014)
Bobby Williamson (2014–2016)
Stanley Okumbi (2016–2017)
Paul Put (2017–2018)
Stanley Okumbi (2018)
Sébastien Migné (2018–2019)
Francis Kimanzi (2019–2020)
Jacob Mulee (2020–2021)
Kennedy Odhiambo (2021)
Engin Fırat (2021–2024)
Francis Kimanzi (2024–2025)
Benni McCarthy (2025–present)
Team Players

Current Squad
These players were chosen for friendly games. They played against Morocco and Chad in June 2025.
The numbers for games played (Caps) and goals scored are correct as of June 10, 2025. This was after the match against Chad.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
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1 | GK | Farouk Shikalo | 12 October 1996 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
18 | GK | Sebastian Wekesa | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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23 | GK | Brian Bwire | 19 June 2000 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
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2 | DF | Siraj Mohammed | 4 December 1998 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | DF | Aboud Omar | 9 September 1992 | 46 | 0 | ![]() |
4 | DF | Sylvester Owino | 6 May 2001 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
5 | DF | Brian Onyango | 24 July 1994 | 40 | 3 | ![]() |
12 | DF | Swaleh Pamba | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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13 | DF | Levis Esambe | 1 December 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
15 | DF | Alphonce Omija | 9 October 2002 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
24 | DF | Daniel Sakari | 25 January 1999 | 14 | 0 | ![]() |
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6 | MF | Brian Musa Katibi | 20 September 1996 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
8 | MF | Alpha Chris Onyango | 23 December 2000 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
10 | MF | Austin Odhiambo | 16 December 1999 | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
11 | MF | William Wilson | 23 December 2001 | 4 | 1 | ![]() |
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7 | FW | Boniface Muchiri | 26 August 1996 | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
9 | FW | Moses Shumah | 27 October 2002 | 3 | 1 | ![]() |
16 | FW | David Sakwa | 4 February 2004 | 1 | 1 | ![]() |
17 | FW | Ben Stanley Omondi | 24 April 2004 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
19 | FW | Nyamawi Beja | 6 June 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
20 | FW | Adam Wilson | 10 April 2000 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
21 | FW | James Kinyanjui | 8 August 1998 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
22 | FW | Emmanuel Osoro | 1 | 1 | ![]() |
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FW | Mohammed Bajaber | 15 March 2003 | 2 | 1 | ![]() |
Players Recently Called Up
These players have also been called to the Kenya squad in the last year.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
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GK | Ian Otieno | 9 August 1993 | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
GK | Bryne Odhiambo | 28 November 2000 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
GK | Dolph Junior | 8 December 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
GK | Ibrahim Wanzala | 16 March 2005 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
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DF | Erick Otieno | 27 September 1996 | 48 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Johnstone Omurwa | 8 August 1998 | 21 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Rooney Onyango | 8 August 2001 | 13 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Daniel Anyembe | 22 July 1998 | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Ismael Athuman | 1 February 1995 | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Manzur Okwaro | 1 January 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Amos Wanjala | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup | |
DF | Paul Ochuoga | 13 September 2004 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
DF | Geoffrey Onyango | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup | |
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MF | Teddy Akumu | 20 October 1992 | 60 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Richard Odada | 25 November 2000 | 21 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Duke Abuya | 23 March 1994 | 18 | 2 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Amos Nondi | 10 February 1999 | 16 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Timothy Ouma | 10 June 2004 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Chris Erambo | 10 December 2004 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
MF | John Ochieng | 15 December 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
MF | Kayci Odhiambo | 28 April 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
MF | Patrick Otieno | 24 December 2000 | 2 | 1 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
MF | Aldrine Kibet | 13 June 2006 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
MF | Stanley Wilson | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup | |
MF | William Gitamu | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup | |
MF | Elly Owande | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup | |
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FW | Michael Olunga | 26 March 1994 | 60 | 29 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Eric Johanna Omondi | 18 August 1994 | 36 | 4 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Masoud Juma | 3 February 1996 | 22 | 8 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | John Avire | 12 March 1997 | 12 | 2 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Jonah Ayunga | 24 May 1997 | 5 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Elvis Rupia | 12 April 1995 | 4 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Benson Omala | 16 October 2001 | 5 | 1 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
FW | Alfred Tanui | 28 December 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
FW | Hassan Beja | 26 August 2005 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup |
FW | Jeremy Bissau | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 COSAFA Cup | |
INJ Withdrew due to injury |
Team Records
Here are some records for the Kenya national football team. Players whose names are in bold are still playing for Kenya.
Most Games Played
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
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1 | Musa Otieno | 90 | 9 | 1993–2009 |
2 | Jonathan Niva | 88 | 10 | 1965–1976 |
3 | Allan Thigo | 81 | 11 | 1969–1978 |
4 | John Nyawanga | 80 | 17 | 1965–1976 |
5 | Dennis Oliech | 76 | 34 | 2002–2015 |
6 | Robert Mambo Mumba | 72 | 13 | 2000–2009 |
7 | Titus Mulama | 71 | 8 | 2001–2012 |
8 | Francis Onyiso | 70 | 0 | 1996–2011 |
9 | Wilberforce Mulamba | 68 | 14 | 1978–1988 |
James Siang'a | 68 | 0 | 1963–1975 |
Top Goal Scorers
Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | William Ouma | 35 | 66 | 0.53 | 1965–1977 |
2 | Dennis Oliech | 34 | 76 | 0.45 | 2002–2015 |
3 | Elijah Lidonde | 33 | 26 | 1.27 | 1950–1961 |
4 | Michael Olunga | 32 | 65 | 0.48 | 2015–present |
5 | Ali Kajo | 26 | 32 | 0.81 | 1959–1969 |
Livingstone Madegwa | 26 | 49 | 0.53 | 1964–1972 | |
7 | Joe Kadenge | 25 | 63 | 0.4 | 1957–1970 |
8 | John Baraza | 21 | 52 | 0.4 | 2002–2011 |
9 | Daniel Nicodemus | 17 | 34 | 0.5 | 1963–1972 |
Mike Origi | 17 | 48 | 0.35 | 1990–2004 | |
John Nyawanga | 17 | 80 | 0.21 | 1965–1976 |
Tournament Records
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
1930 to 1958 | Part of ![]() |
Part of ![]() |
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1962 to 1970 | Did not enter | Declined participation | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 8 | |||||||||
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||
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2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||
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4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 | ||||||||||
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6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||
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2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||
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8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 14 | ||||||||||
![]() ![]() |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||
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12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 17 | ||||||||||
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12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 16 | ||||||||||
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8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 5 | ||||||||||
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | ||||||||||
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6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | ||||||||||
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To be determined | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 8 | |||||||||
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To be determined | |||||||||||||||
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Total | 0/16 | 80 | 25 | 22 | 33 | 92 | 108 |
African Nations Championship
African Nations Championship record | ||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Qualified as co-hosts | |||||||
Total | TBD | 1/8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record | ||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
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Not affiliated to CAF | |||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 5th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
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8th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
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9th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Withdrew | |||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 11th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 17th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Disqualified due to FIFA suspension | |||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Qualified as co-hosts | |||||||
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To be determined | |||||||
Total | Group stage | 7/36 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 31 |
African Games
Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
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2nd | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
Team Achievements
Continental Awards
Regional Awards
- CECAFA Cup
- This competition is organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa. FIFA does not officially recognize it.
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Kenia para niños